But I know God has big stuff planned that ultimately doesn't have anything to do with me.
But I think as churches - and I'll go off the deep end here - and say we've got to reach out to our communities.
But with many of these worship albums, two songs are good and the rest are throwaways.
Doing the instrumental thing, you're really looking for the power of the melody to carry the record.
Even though we were all celebrities to a certain extent, we all looked at each other as family.
First of all, you need to just absolutely pray with all your might that God will give you a heart for Him more than anything - for Him.
For some reason, and for a time such as this, God has given me favor with kings and princes.
For some reason, we've attached this worship phrase to all of that, but we forgot about the second greatest commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself.
God deserves the best from us.
Healing rain is a real touch from God. It could be physical healing or emotional or whatever.
Honestly, I'm not real good with words and a lot of times I just express myself through writing something or playing something.
I believe people are afraid to be still because we're used to being stimulated.
I hope people's hearts are prepared to receive news about the devastation in Sudan.
I probably learned most about worship in my days when I went to Belmont Church on Music Row.
I sang at the Inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral.
I sure love Ireland. The first trip I ever made was last year when I did this record in Dublin.
I think anytime you're having to write lyrics and do background vocals and all that sort of thing it's so much more time consuming.
I think if the church did what they were supposed to do we wouldn't have anyone sleeping on the streets.
I think it all comes down to relationships - how I treat my wife, how I treat my kids, how I treat the guys at the grocery store, all aspects of every day, what I'm involved in.
I think one of my greatest gifts is leading worship.
I think that's why musical worship is popular. It's not just the songs. It's expressing what people want to say.
I think The Big Picture was such a huge shift from my second record.
I think the frustrating part is when you get record companies who jump on the bandwagon and everybody wants to release worship albums because it's what's selling.
I think there's a passion for God like never before.
I think worship is a lifestyle, first of all.
I, on the other hand, have a bit of a southern accent.
I'd like to literally play a tape and have each person find someone they don't know and just converse for twenty minutes to get to know each other.
I'm going to act. It's been in my blood for years, but I only said I'd do something if the script were redemptive, so I'm shooting what's called The Second Chance, acting in the film.
I'm learning, but I'm getting better at it because I'm learning how to hear God in worship.
I'm on the journey like everybody, but I'm focused. I know where my strength comes from, and it doesn't have anything to do with Michael W. Smith.
I've always wanted to go to church and sing one song, then for the rest of our worship time, just go and love on each other.
I've been there and done all that, sold millions of records, and that doesn't bring you peace.
I've explored the worship side, the pop side, and the film scoring side of me.
I've said to others that there were places I had forgotten about that were just so powerful. I've read the Gospels many times, but it's been a while since I've read through a whole book.
In terms of my headspace and me spiritually, I'm probably in a better place than I ever have been.
In terms of worship, I think we ought to have the right people leading.
It's been twenty years now, and I'm honored and blown away that I've gotten to do it this long. It's just absolutely mind-boggling to me.
It's really interesting to go back to '93 or '94 and listen to that music, like the I'll Lead You Home record.
Just look at the Old Testament. They didn't go out with the army first. They sent the musicians out.
Love wasn't put in your heart to stay. Love isn't love until you give it away.
Meanwhile, I just want to be faithful in the small things and watch what unfolds.
My brain would get depleted of oxygen from reading so much, so I'd have to take breaks, walk outside, and take a big deep breath or two.
Not everyone can lead worship.
Really, I could care less if there's a Second Decade record.
Since it was recorded at a concert, we had one shot. You want to prepare, and at the same time you want to stay out of the way.
Some of the most powerful times are when we're quiet.
There are a lot of bad worship songs, in my opinion, but there are a lot of good ones, too.
There are a lot of songs sitting around on my computer that didn't make it that I liked but you have to draw the line a little bit.
There was something particularly powerful about the passages around the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
There's this real desire on our part to be the man and woman of God that He wants us to be, and to do that you have to be a servant.
Things change when you give your life to serving God, and that can be scary.
This fall I'm doing something I've never done before. I'm starring in a film, an independent film.
Transformation in the world happens when people are healed and start investing in other people.
We were engaged three-and-a-half weeks after the first date.
We've got to get involved and reach out to the communities, be more evangelical, and bring people into the kingdom.
We've probably never met, but I wish we had.
When you think of a spoken word project, you think of Charlton Heston or radio guys - people who have great speaking voices.
You can so easily get pulled from all sides and all the sudden you're caught in the craziness of life. That's not what it's supposed to be like.
You don't learn how to lead worship, in my opinion. I think you're gifted. You're anointed to lead and then you learn.
Is good friends with Amy Grant.
George W. Bush calls him "The real Dubya."
He is friends with Billy Graham's son, Franklin.
He wanted to be a baseball player when he was a kid.
He presented and performed at the 44th annual Grammys.
He has five children: Ryan, Whitney, Tyler, Anna, and Emily.
Founded Rocketown Records in 1996.
Winner of 40 Dove awards.
Dropped out of Marshall University in West Virgina after one semester to pursue music career in Nashville.
Wrote first song at age five.
Has won three grammys. Two for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album and one for Best Male Gospel Performance.
Has the key to the city of Kenova, West Virginia and is in the Kenova Hall of Fame.
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